Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Creative Practice

Applications are closed for September 2024. 

A 60 credit Level 9 qualification in Creative Practice available over eight months from October to May, with the option to progress to an MA Award.

The Post-Graduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Creative Practice offers artists, designers and filmmakers a creative and critically informed environment in which to develop and consolidate their practice. The course will support imaginative, experimental and interdisciplinary enquiry through a range of media and approaches.

Students will choose one of four strands in which to base their study:

1. Contemporary art studio practice
2. Digital cultures
3. Film and lens based media
4. Socially engaged practice

The course is structured so as to balance general and specific demands of various practices. Students will be encouraged to work collaboratively as well as be independent, self-directed critical thinkers. The emphasis of the course is on the student completing a large practice-based project.This culminates with the production of a final exhibition, film screening or project presentation.

A PG Dip Graduate may return in a future year to undertake an additional thesis to demonstrate appropriate critical contextualization of the practice based work to achieve the MA award.

For more information, you can download the PG Dip in Creative Practice Programme Information here.

The PG Dip is an eight-month 60 credit course.

There are three mandatory taught modules:

1. Themes and Issues in Creative Practice (10 credits)
2. Professional Development (10 credits)
3. Research and Innovation (10 credits)

Students undertaking the PG Dip will also undertake the Creative Practice Project for 30 credits.

Students graduating with a PG Dip can also return in a future year to undertake the Minor Thesis for an additional 30 credits in order to achieve the MA award.

The Creative Practice Project is initiated by a project proposal which will be guided and developed to completion by the end of the course. Practice-based research is undertaken where the student focuses on developing their art, film, digital media or socially engaged practice to completion. 

Targeted areas of employment for graduates of this programme lie within the extensive range of creative networks and cultural infrastructure of the city, region and beyond.

Employment includes:

• Self-employed artists
• Socially engaged and public art projects
• Arts administration
• Curation
• Filmmakers
• Technicians
• Designers

Within education, opportunities exist for advanced research at level 10 and beyond, as well as opportunities in second and third level teaching, lecturing and art education programmes in museum and cultural institutions.

The sector thrives on innovation, initiative and ambition. The PG Dip in Creative Practice fosters such ambition through a strategically informed practical project-based environment.

Fees and Funding
The Total Fees (EU Fees) for this programme can be found on our Fees & Funding webpage - Fees & Funding | ATU - Atlantic Technological University. 

Application Procedure
 Applications will open in February for September intake. 

Interviews: June (Provisional Date)

Applicants must provide the following:

• A CV detailing their qualifications and career to date.
• A short visual record of previous work.
• A personal motivational statement which should include an outline of their plans and interests related to Creative Practice and potential Practice-Based Research.

All qualified applicants with a relevant L8 qualification or equivalent will be short-listed for interview. Other applicants may be considered through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. The interview will discuss qualifications, experience and the plans and interests outlined by the students in the statement. Applicants will be assessed at interview based on qualifications (max 40 marks), experience and achievements (max 30 marks) and plans and objectives (max 30 marks).

Contact Us

Dr. Gavin Murphy

Tel: +353 (0) 91 770661 Email: gavin.murphy@atu.ie